Write up after Sandown yesterday, videos still yet to be sorted and uploaded.
Session 1- 9:30 AM : Battery 90%+; tyre pressure - 36psi cold (way too high). 50/50 split. ESP- 0. Best Lap : 1:33:8
TM3P is a great track car. It was very hot yesterday with temperature already at 32 by 9:30 AM. As I hadn't done track day in a long long time, I was put in group A. The first session was really good as the car around the track. Plenty of poke and overtook most of the cars in Lap 1(except a pesky Mustang GT which was modded). What I didn't do was let down the tires and was still doing laps at 38 cold (which is way too high). Regen was on at 100% for the first couple of laps and the battery got very hot very fast. Took the regen down to 50% for the next 2 laps and on the second lap, the brakes were almost cooked. Ended the 6 lap session at 65% battery. tyre pressure was 42 when I checked at the end of session 1.
Session 2: 10:45 AM: Battery 66%; tyre pressure - 38 hot (still too high). 40/60 split ESP at -3. Best Lap : 1:35.1
Started the session with regen at 0. Great first lap, that pesky Mustang was behind me now and making up places real quick. Second Lap, the brakes completely faded and I went off the track at Turn 1 and the already way too high curb banged on the battery.. came back to paddock to check for any damage (couldn't see any) so went back out. Regen on and 40/60 front back split with stability control at -2. Ended this session with 30% battery left and all drivetrain components warm/hot.
Took a break and went down to EVIE charger. Maxed out the charging at 190kw/h went up to 90 in about 26 mins (battery was already pretty warm so that might have helped).
Session 3: 12:45 PM. Battery 88%; tyre pressure - 34 hot. 40/60 split ESP at -10. Best Lap 1:31.4
This was the best session by far mainly due to battery being high enough and got some tyre pressure tips from one of the other crews running a different Mustang. Regen was on for the first 2 laps and then off for the remainder of the laps. Brakes were pretty much useless after lap 4. The rear motor was already orange while on the out lap, second lap got the best time of the day. third lap spun and damn nearly crashed into the wall at the last corner. Took it easy the rest of the lap and put one more lap before the brakes were gone. Lap 5 was a leisure lap. Battery at the end of the session was down to 62%.
Session 4: 2:15 PM Battery 55% tyre pressure - 32 hot. 40/60 split ESP at -10 Bet Lap : 1:34.8
Battery was slightly orange on the out lap. Got one good lap with regen at 100% and then it was done. Tried to do better in the next couple of laps, there was no punch above 80k, even though the acc pedal was flat to the floor. Brakes held up ok for 2 laps and then the same. Battery was 30% at the end of the session. So thought it was hot enough and I'd get no more out of the car / brakes.
Positives:
- Unplugged performance springs + upgrades sway bars are awesome for throwing it around the track.
- Almost kept up with modded Mustang on semi slicks for 2 laps & beat a couple of stripped out 86s / mx5s and pulsar sss.
- Tyres held up relatively well (if I had good tyre pressure management would've been better)
- Surprisingly quick even with ESP turned off.
- Got a lot of people looking asking questions on how it did.
- Topped out at 210 on the back straight in Session 1.
Negatives:
- It was too hot to run regen at 100% but the brakes would fade away in 2 laps so had no choice.
- Brakes were utterly uninspiring in fact I couldn't push the car as much as I could due to lack of confidence in brakes (especially after going off track in session 2).
- Performance when battery is below 60% is just *sugar* & it gets worse as the battery gets warm and low in charge.
- While Pirelli P Zero was good enough, stickier tyres would get better lap times.
- Brakes
- Brakes
- Brakes